Lifestyle tips for winter, spring seasons – Northwest Guardian

Northwest Guardian / 2015

Virginia Rawlings, left, and Nazirow Kriel remove weeds from a garden bed on Lewis North. Planting a garden can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

We’re in the second month of another new and exciting year. Now is the time when many people start to examine their New Year’s resolutions and seeing where they may need a little more help to work on them.

Eating healthier may just be one of the items on your list. The good news is maintaining a healthy diet all year may be easier than you think.

It’s also important to be physically active and get enough sleep, in order to be ready for whatever life may throw at you. Arming yourself with healthy tips before each season begins will help you get through the challenges.

Then, you can take advantage of unique opportunities every season in the great state of Washington.

One of the easiest ways to get the most nutrients from our food is by consuming seasonal vegetables and fruits. Produce picked and consumed in season are at their most flavorful. Seasonal produce also contain the highest nutritional value of the entire year.

Fresh produce contain vitamins, such as A and C, and several minerals required for normal body function. Whole grains, like brown rice and whole wheat bread and flour, are available all year.

They are excellent sources of insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber can make us feel fuller and more satisfied after eating a meal, which helps prevent weight gain and promote weight maintenance.

Soluble fiber, on the other hand, helps with consistent bowel movement as well as lowers the risk of having heart and high blood sugar problems; it can be found in beans, peas, as well as oats and citrus fruits.

The following are lifestyle tips for the remainder of the winter and for the spring in the state of Washington.

WINTER

Wearing layers of thick clothing may help you better enjoy outdoor winter activities, like snowshoeing, skiing and sledding.

However, it’s important to know that bundling up in winter clothing to stay warm may also cause the body to lose a lot of water through sweat.

Cold weather causes us to urinate more often. Cooler temperatures also reduce our desire to drink water.

Therefore, try to stay mindful of the ways you may be losing water every day, and replace those losses. Soups and stews are common winter dishes that not only help warm our body, but can hydrate us, too.

You can also easily make many kinds of healthy soups at home. Using seasonal vegetables, like squash, pumpkins or carrots as a base can improve their nutritional value. Adding a little seasoning and vegetable or chicken broth is a nice way to make them even tastier.

Yellow onion and leeks in stews are simple ways to add nutrients like biotin, manganese, copper, and vitamins B6, C, and K to your diet.

A diet that includes beans helps to achieve daily acceptable amounts of fiber and proteins and several minerals like iron, and zinc.

SPRING

Spring signifies the start of new growth. So, take advantage of the nice weather change from the dreary and often depression-inducing winter months.

Stay active by starting a flower or produce garden. Another idea is to explore the many scenic trails and parks around American Lake, and in nearby cities between the months of March and May.

Spending 20 minutes outside during extended sunny days allows the body to make vitamin D. Food sources of this vitamin include certain fortified cereals and juices, irradiated mushrooms, salmon, sardines and tuna fish.

Spring is ideal for local Marion berry picking and wild mushroom hunting, too.

Living and working around JBLM offers ample opportunities to get out and enjoy the beautiful surroundings each season. Take a look at your resolutions for 2016 and look for ways eating healthier or being outdoors can be fun ways in helping you meet your goals.